Disclaimer: All rights to the Harry Potter franchise and characters belong to J.K. Rowling
The next morning Harry pushed himself up and out of the bed. The young boy wiped his hand on his face tiredly, pushing the sleep out of his eyes. Slowly, he stood out of the bed, making his way towards the bathroom. The young boy dragged his feet slowly across the floor after gathering his robes and clothes. A half an hour later, the young boy made his way out of the bathroom, completely awake. Harry looked around and could see that his dorm mates were still sleep. Harry could here Ron Weasley snoring loudly, hidden behind his bed hangings. Harry shook his head at the boy before he made his way over to his trunk. He kneeled down next to it, placing his hand on the center of it. The trunk opened at its master's touch and inside Harry pulled out a book. He looked out the window after closing his trunk, seeing it was still dark outside. He closed his trunk after placing his book in the fold of his robes before he made his way out of the room, briefly wondering what happened to Sebastian.
Harry didn't worry too much about it. His snake familiar was probably making his way around the school. Once in the common room, Harry chose a seat by the fire and opened his potions book, reading it slowly. As he read, sun light slowly began to creep into the common room. A cough alerted him to the fact that he wasn't alone. Harry looked up in surprise, hand moving towards his wand before he stopped as he saw Hermione standing in front of him with a smile.
"I didn't expect to see you up this early, Harry," she said in slight surprise.
Harry smiled at her. "Once I wake up its hard for me to go back to sleep," Harry explained as he closed his book.
Hermione raised an eyebrow at him in curiosity. "What book is it that you're reading?" She questioned.
Harry smiled at her, mentally shaking his head as he showed her the title: One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi.
"Why are you reading that?" Hermione questioned.
"No reason," Harry said as he closed the book, placing it into his robes. "Come on - let's go see if breakfast is ready." Harry smiled at her before he made his way out of the common room. Hermione followed him with a smile, shaking her head at him. The pair made their way down the steps, quickly making their way to the Great Hall after using passages Harry saw last night.
The pair sat down at the almost empty table. Breakfast appeared before them and Harry reached for some of the fruit and sausages. Hermione reached for the fruit and a few slices of toast. She spread the butter onto her toast before she slowly began to eat. As the pair ate, the Great Hall slowly began to fill up with more students. Harry and Hermione both looked up in surprise as they heard the sounds of wings flapping. Hundreds of owl's flocked into the Great Hall, circling the group below, looking for their owners before they flew down at them. Harry's own owl, Hedwig flew down in front of him, landing in front of the boy's plate of food.
"Hello, Hedwig," Harry said, handing her a piece of bacon as she hooted in greeting. Next to him, Hermione gasped.
"She's beautiful, Harry," Hermione cried as she ran her fingers over the owl's white plumage. Harry shook his head as Hedwig puffed up at the praise.
"And she's downright arrogant," Harry said as he looked at his own. Hedwig puffed up in indignation at Harry before she nipped him on the ear. "Ouch!" Harry said as he ran his fingers against his ear. "I was joking!" He muttered.
Hermione giggled softly as Hedwig took a bit of his sausage and flew off. Harry shook his head at his owl as she flew off to go and rest with the other owls. Professor McGonagall strolled by him and Hermione, placing each of their timetables in front of the two. Harry looked over his timetable for the week, raising and eyebrow as he saw that he had potions for the first class. Hermione looked over her timetable, biting her lower lip thoughtfully.
Harry turned towards her. "What class are you looking forward to?" Harry questioned.
Hermione's eyes looked over the timetable before she sighed. I suppose, Transfiguration," she said slightly unsure. "Or maybe even Charms. How about you," She looked at him.
"Defense Against the Dark Art's," Harry said instantly. Someone chuckled from behind him.
"You may want to watch who you say that to, Harry," Blaise said as he received looks from the people at their table. The Gryffindor's all glared at the Slytherin boy as he stood next to Harry and Hermione. The whole hall stared at each of them strangely. Blaise looked completely unbothered by the fact that everyone was staring at him, or he just didn't care. Harry thought it was the latter. Harry looked around at the others at the table before he stood up. Hermione followed him and stood up too. The trio quickly made their way out of the Great Hall and towards the dungeons.
"Is there any reason why everyone was practically glaring at you today," Hermione said.
Blaise chuckled as he pointed at the Slytherin house crest on the front of his robes. "Remember everyone just sees Slytherin and only sees evil. They probably think I'm going to try and hurt Harry over here," Blaise commented as they walked down a flight of stairs. They reached the classroom and stood outside the class, waiting for the students to show up. Slowly the other students made their way to the classroom. Just like in the Great Hall earlier, they received looks from the Gryffindor's and Slytherin's.
Ron Weasley looked at the group in anger. "Harry, why the hell are you hanging out with a snake?" the young boy shouted in confusion as he saw Harry and Hermione with Blaise.
"Shut up, Weasley," Draco Malfoy said as he stood around his group of friend's. "Blaise, why are you hanging out with lions?"
Harry and Blaise looked at the two with an eyebrow raised, looking back and forth at them before they looked at each other. "Change a few of the words and they sound exactly the same." Harry said to Blaise.
The young boy nodded in agreement. "It's just like looking into the mirror." Blaise said.
"What do you mean?" Ron said loudly.
"They mean that the both of you sound exactly the same," Hermione said as she looked at Ron and Draco in disgust.
Ron and Draco flushed and looked at each other before they pointed at each other each of them shouting: "I do not act like him!" They both glared at each other. Harry and Blaise chuckled as they shook their heads.
"Point proven," Hermione muttered as she shook her head.
Before anything else could be said the door, slammed open. Professor Snape stared at the group with an eyebrow raised before he pointed inside his classroom.
"In," he barked. The group of Slytherin and Gryffindor's quickly made their way into the class. Harry, Hermione, and Blaise quickly made their way into the class, finding a pair of seats. Blaise and Hermione sat next to each other while Harry and one of Harry's dorm-mates, Neville Longbottom, sat next to him. Harry grinned at the young boy. The young boy smiled nervously back at him.
Snape made his way to the front of the class before he reached his desk. At his desk, he turned around quickly towards the class, staring at each of the students. His eyes stayed on Harry for a few moments before he moved on. Harry didn't feel a brush against his mental shields.
After staring at the class, he began to take roll and at Harry's name, he paused.
"Mr. Potter," he drawled as he looked at Harry. "Our new – celebrity," All the Slytherin's except for Blaise sniggered. Harry raised an eyebrow at him before he masked his face into a blank look. He finished calling roll before he began to speak again.
"There will be no silly wand waving in this class," Snape drawled as he placed his hands on his desk, speaking barely above a whisper. "Here, you will know of the subtle science and exact art of potion-making. I don't expect you will be able to see the brilliant art of a shimmering cauldron with its shimmering features, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human vein's, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses… I can teach you to bottle fame, brew glory, even stop death," he looked around the class once again. "That is if you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach," at the end of his sentence he stared directly at Harry and Neville. Neville swallowed nervously as the teacher's dark eyes fell on him.
Harry narrowed his eyes slightly, his hand forming into a fist underneath the table. Behind him, Hermione narrowed her own eyes at being labeled as a dunderhead.
"Potter!" He said suddenly. "What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"
"Draught of Living Death, sir," Harry said.
Snape narrowed his eyes. "Good guess," he muttered, "If I told you to find a bezoar?"
"Stomach of a goat, or in your store cabinets, Professor," Harry said.
"One point away from Gryffindor House for your cheek, Potter," Snape said. "What is the difference between monkshood and wolfsbane?"
"The name," Harry said as he stared back at Snape, "sir. It also goes by aconite. You should know, sir. You are the Potion's Master."
Snape grinned at Harry. "Another point from Gryffindor, Potter," his cold, dark eyes turned back towards the gathered students. "Well? Why aren't you all writing this down?"
Quills and parchment appeared in each of the student's hands as they quickly wrote down the information. After they wrote down the information, Snape put them in pairs. Harry and Neville slowly worked through the potion. Neville reached over the cauldron; about to put in the porcupine quills in before Harry grabbed his wrist, stopping the young boy.
"Those go in after we take it off the cauldron, Neville," Harry said as he extinguished the flame with a wave of his hand.
"Th-thanks, Harry," The young boy whispered, his voice squeaking slightly.
Harry looked at the young boy with a small smile. "Calm down, Neville," Harry said. "Take a deep breath." The boy nodded before he took in a shaky breath before letting it out slowly, calming down slightly. "Good. Now you can add the quills."
The boy nodded a shy smile slowly crossing his face. "Thanks Harry," he said as he threw in the quills. As they continued to work Neville noticeable calmed down, working together well with the young boy. Harry grinned at the young boy, suddenly getting an idea.
"Neville," he whispered to the boy out of the corner of his lips. The boy looked at him in surprise. "Watch this." Harry said. He looked around the room, seeing that Snape was hovering over a different pair of students on other side of the room. Harry waved his hand once and a porcupine quill floated into the air and darted across the room. On the Slytherin side of the room, Crabbe and another Slytherin student were about to extinguish the fire when the porcupine quill landed right into the concoction.
The effects happened instantly. Clouds of acid smoke began to billow out of the potion as the boys looked at it surprise. The cauldron quickly melted into a twisted blob, the potion spilling onto the floor, burning its way into people's shoes.
The Slytherin side of the class stood on the stools as the potion made its way along the stone floor. The Gryffindor's followed the Slytherin's example as the potion slowly made its way over to them. Crabbe and the Slytherin student, each of them drenched in the potion were letting out moans of pain as boils covered their bodies.
Without a word, Snape pulled out his wand, waving it at the potion. It disappeared as Snape finished waving his wand. "You two," he snarled, point his wand at Harry and Neville. Neville squeaked slightly as the Professor pointed his wand at them. "Take them up to the hospital wing, and be back here before class ends," he spat.
Harry and Neville quickly went over to them before they dragged them out of the class, hearing Snape yell at another group of student's. As soon as Harry was a ways down the hall, he burst out laughing. "That was great." Harry said as he dragged Crabbe to a broom closet. He dropped the moaning boy and opened the broom closet before he threw him in.
"Aren't we supposed to take them to the hospital wing?" Neville question as he watched Harry.
"They'll be alright here," Harry moved away from the door, grabbing the other Slytherin and throwing him into the closet. Harry kicked the door closed.
"But what about Snape," Neville questioned fearfully watching as Harry closed the door.
"Nothing will happen as long as you don't look him in the eyes," Harry said with a small smirk.
"What does that mean?" Neville asked, slightly curious.
"He's a Legilimens," Harry said as he walked away from the class.
Neville looked thoughtful for a moment. "You mean he could read minds?"
Harry nodded as he smiled at the boy. "How do you know what it is?"
Neville smiled as he followed Harry. "My gran told me," he said as he followed Harry. "Where are we going?"
Harry grinned as he continued down the hallway, turning at a corridor. "We, Neville," Harry stared to say, "are going to have an early lunch." Harry continued down the hallway as Neville paused. Just as Harry was going to turn around the hallway, he looked back at him.
"You coming," Harry questioned before he disappeared around the corner. Neville Longbottom stared at the end of the hallway where Harry turned around from for a few moments, looking back at the hall that went back to Snape's classroom, before he simply shrugged and followed the boy. He would rather follow the Boy-Who-Lived instead of staying in the same room as the bully of a Professor.
Harry sat at the Gryffindor table with Neville, eating an early lunch slowly. The bell had ringed a few minutes ago and slowly the hall was filling up. An irritated Hermione Granger made her way into the Great Hall. The young first year took a quick look around the hall before she spotted the two boys, sitting at the table. She quickly made her way over to them. Neville managed to look back and see Hermione and swallowed nervously. Harry looked at Hermione with a smile on his face, waving at the young witch.
"Where the hell have you two been," she hissed underneath her breath as she sat down next to Harry.
"Eating," Harry said as he ate his lunch. "Did Snape miss us?"
"Miss you!" Hermione exclaimed loudly. A blush covered her face as she realized how loud she shouted. She whispered softly, "he looked like he was going to tear down the whole school to find you."
Harry grinned as he watched Hermione. "Good." Harry said simply.
Hermione sputtered indignantly as Neville chuckled softly at her expression. Hermione glared at both of them before she shook her head, stood up from the table and stomped away.
Harry watched her go with a grin on his face before he turned back to Neville.
"She's pretty scary when she's mad." Neville muttered as he watched Hermione disappear out of the hall.
Harry nodded in agreement. He reached into his bag and pulled out his timetable. "We'd better hurry up, Neville," Harry said as he looked at the timetable. "We have Transfiguration next. Don't want to be late."
The young boy nodded before they both stood up and quickly made their way out of the hall and towards the second floor. They arrived to class a few minutes early and took a seat next to an irritated Hermione. She ignored the pair as they sat on each side of her, facing the front of the classroom. Harry smirked on her left before he pulled out a quill and parchment. A small tabby cat sat in the middle of Professor McGonagall's desk. The cat watched as the first year's slowly trickled into the class as the bell rang loudly the door closing behind the last first year. A few minutes after the bell, a sweaty faced Ron Weasley and Seamus Finnigan entered the class. "Good thing, McGonagall's not here yet." Ron whispered to Seamus as they made their way into class. The cat jumped off the table and changed into their Professor; walking towards them slowly. The class looked on in amazement at what just happened.
"That was bloody brilliant," Ron said as he stared at the professor in open-mouthed wonder.
"Thank you, Mr. Weasley," she said stiffly. "You and Mr. Finnigan please try not to be late to class next time," she looked at them both. "Take your seats."
The pair grumbled as they sat down a few rows behind the two. Harry listened closely as McGonagall began to speak to the class about transfiguration, writing everything down as the class slowly made its way through. After she finished speaking, she pulled out a small box with matches. She gave each of the class one and told them to practice the transfiguration spell on it to see if it changed into a needle. By the end of the class, Harry and Hermione managed to change their needles respectively. Hermione's ways slimmer and shinier, but Harry's looked more like a needle, still the color of the match.
She awarded the two student's five points each, giving the pair a smile.
The week went by slowly. Three times a week Harry learned about Herbology from the head of Hufflepuff with a small witch Professor Sprout. He learned about the vicious planet's that seemed made his Aunt's planets look harmless. At night, he went up with the rest of the student's to the highest tower and studied the stars. Watching the constellations dark across the sky and learn about their meanings.
The class that Harry was looking forward to was Defense Against the Dark Art's, but the young boy was greatly disappointed. Professor Quirrell always stuttered during the whole class, making his words sound more than forced. Harry decided to go teach himself in the late hours of the night instead of listening to the man.
Another class Harry hated was History of Magic. Harry wondered how the teacher they ha d could make something so interesting sound complete and utterly boring. Binn's bored, droning voice caused everyone, even Harry, to fall to sleep in class. The only person who didn't manage to fall to sleep was Hermione. Harry wondered how Hermione could stand the ghost's voice.
Harry enjoyed his charms class, taught by the small wizard Professor Flitwick. The small wizard stood on a stack of books as he taught the class, and unlike Snape, once he reached Harry's name the little wizard almost fell off his stack of books in excitement.
On Saturday, Harry, Hermione, Neville, and Blaise were all sitting underneath a tree close to the Great Lake. A book sat at each of their feet and were studying and finishing the rest of their homework.
"Did you all hear about the break in at Gringotts?" Neville questioned. Neville was slowly getting over his shyness from all of them, even though he still was wary around Blaise.
Hermione and Harry looked at the young boy, pausing from doing their homework. Blaise sat up slightly from his position as he leaned against the tree. Neville reached into his bag and pulled out a copy of the Daily Prophet. Harry and Hermione looked at each other before they turned to a noticeable article and began reading:
GRINGOTTS BREAK-IN LATEST
Investigations continue in the break-attempt at Gringotts on July 31.
The case is widely to believe the work of Dark wizards or witches. Gringotts goblins insist that nothing had been stolen. The vault in question had been opened earlier the day. The goblins have assured the public that the bank is still the safest place in the world.
Hermione looked up in surprise as Harry pulled away from the paper, slowly.
"Wow," Hermione said softly in amazement. Neville nodded at her. Blaise looked at the thoughtful look on Harry's face.
"What are you thinking about?" Blaise enquired as he stared at Harry.
Harry looked at him. "The vault," he started slowly, "was opened the same day on my birthday."
"Really?" Neville and Hermione asked in surprise.
Harry nodded. "Yeah," he looked thoughtful, "I was getting money out of my vault to by my school supplies."
The group looked at each other, thoughts shifting as they looked at one another. Harry looked at the ground, wondering what that all meant as he tried to remember who he saw at the bank that day. His mind drew up a blank. Harry shook his head as he stood up, placing his books in his bag.
"Where are you going?" Hermione questioned as she watched him stand.
"Practice some of my spell work." Harry said as he slung his bag over his shoulder. Blaise stood up after him.
"I'm coming with you," Blaise said as he stared at Harry. "Have you dueled before, Harry?"
Harry shook his head.
Blaise clapped his hands eagerly, eyes lighting up in anticipation. "Great. Let's go find an old classroom and we can practice."
Hermione and Neville stood up quickly at that. "I'm coming with you." Hermione insisted as she quickly placed her own stuff into her bag. Neville nodded in agreement, turning towards Blaise.
"Can you teach me too?" The young boy asked. "Malfoy's been sending hexes at me behind my back. I want to find a way to at least try and stop him."
Blaise nodded, placing his bag over his shoulder. "Let's hurry and find an unused class before night fall."
The group hurried towards the school. Inside the castle, the first years made their way up a flight of stairs searching for a room to practice in. They managed to find one and quickly slipped into the room.
The classroom had desks stacked up on one side of the room and was mostly empty. Blaise examined the room before he nodded to himself, pulling off his outer robe. Harry did the same thing, his wand slipping into his hand.
"Perfect place to practice," Blaise muttered as he turned back towards them. Hermione and Neville stood next to the door. "Dueling is simple," he began, "the duelers walk up to each other and bow, take a few steps back and once some says begin you start hurling spells at each other." Blaise explained with a smile on his face.
"How do you know?" Harry questioned as he kept his fingers wrapped around his wand.
"One of step-fathers taught me when I was young," Blaise said.
Harry nodded.
"Are you ready?" Blaise questioned.
Harry nodded again before he walked up to Blaise. The Slytherin boy nodded at Harry before he saluted him with his wand in front of him. Harry followed his example and bowed before they each turned away and walked a few feet away from each other.
"Hermione, start us," Blaise said as he faced Harry.
She nodded as Neville watched from her side. "One," she looked back and forth at the boys, "two," she raised her hand. Blaise smirked at Harry. Harry grinned back. "Three," she brought her hand down.
"Flipendo!" Harry shouted. A bright orange light rocketed out of his wand. Blaise sidestepped the spell, jabbing his wand at Harry.
"Tarantallegra, Flipendo," Blaise said rapidly. Bright lights jetted out of his wand as Blaise continued to move, making his way forward to Harry. The young boy's green eyes widened before he ducked to the side. Harry waved his wand at one of the desks saying, "Wingardium Leviosa," the desk floated into the air before Harry jerked his wand towards Blaise. The desk rocketed towards the young boy.
Blaise raised his wand shouting, "Incendio!" A ball of fire shot out of his wand, hitting the desk and burning it to splinters. Blaise waved his wand once, and the ashes disappeared. Blaise waved his wand at the desks in the corner and two of them jerked towards him. He waved his wand, watching as they stopped in front of him. He smirked and shouted out, "Flipendo," pointing his wand at each of them.
The desks rocketed towards Harry before the boy sent out anther spell. Harry moved out of the way of the first desk and ducked under the other. Before he could move again, he felt his feet fly out from underneath him. He tumbled through the air and landed on the ground in a heap.
He groaned before he sat up slowly, moving his glasses correctly onto his face. He immediately ducked back down as a bright orange light sailed over his head. Before Harry could move, he felt his wand fly out of his hand a clatter away.
Blaise stood over him, wand pointed directly at him. Hermione and Neville stood off to the side, eyes wide in surprise.
"Surrender?" The black boy said with a grin on his face.
Harry smirked at the boy, kicking his feet out from under him. Blaise fell to the ground with grunt, keeping his wand in his hand. Harry rolled away snatching up his wand. Blaise waved his wand at the boy's back as he moved backwards, shouting, "Flipendo, Tarantallegra, Expelliarmus," three lights erupted from his wand. The first was a dark purple, the second was blue and the third was red. The first Harry dodged the second caused Harry to lose his balance as his legs began to dance uncontrollably as the last send his wand out of his hand again.
"Incarcerous," ropes flew out the end of Blaise's wand, wrapping tightly around Harry. Blaise stood up slowly and canceled the jinx on the boy's legs.
"Nice job," Blaise commented as he looked down at Harry. Harry tried to move, but couldn't and only succeeded in turning onto his back. Blaise raised an eyebrow, wand pointed at Harry's face.
"Give up?" Blaise said. Harry toyed with the idea of using a bit of wandless magic, but thought better of it. Instead, the young boy nodded his head. The ropes loosened and disappeared as Blaise waved his wand at him. Blaise held out his hand, lifting Harry up until he was standing.
Hermione and Neville clapped at the pair, making Blaise grin and Harry scratch the back of his head in embarrassment.
"You did pretty well since it was your first time dueling," Blaise said as he placed his robe back on, placing his wand in his pocket. "You actually moved out of the way instead of just standing in the same place and shooting off spell after spell."
"Where did you learn to cast so rapidly like that?" Hermione questioned as her and Neville approached them.
"Step-father," Blaise replied, "he taught me a lot of dueling before he died."
"Nice," Neville commented. "Can you teach me?"
Blaise nodded and walked over to where he and Harry started. "Come on, Longbottom," the young boy said as he raised his wand in front of his face once more. Neville swallowed nervously before he wrapped his hand determinedly around his wand before he made his way in front of Blaise. The Slytherin boy smiled at the boy before he bowed turned, and walked away a few paces. Neville followed his movements before he turned around, wand held aloft, slightly unsure of what to do with it. Blaise raised his wand a few inches above his head; arm out with his palm forward.
"Ready?" Blaise asked.
Neville nodded as he swallowed before Harry began the countdown. "One, two, three!" Blaise's wand hand snapped forward as the Knockback Jinx shot out.
Neville moved to the side, waving his wand at Blaise, "Petrificus Totalus," the hex shot its way at Blaise and the young boy moved to the side. Blaise sent two spells at Neville, another Knockback Jinx along with the Body-bind. Neville moved from the Knockback and walked into the Body-bind. The young boy's hands snapped to his sides as his body straightened before he slowly fell backwards. Before he could fall fully, Blaise cast a Levitating Charm. He floated gently to the stone floor. Blaise smiled before he waved his wand, muttering, "Finte Incantatum."
Neville's body relaxed completely as he lifted the boy from the body bind. Blaise helped him back up with a smirk. "You'll get better in time." He said as he watched the boy look down in embarrassment.
"Care to give it a try, Hermione?" Blaise questioned wand ready in his hand.
Hermione shook her head. Harry chuckled softly before he went over to his bag. "What spell did you want to learn?" Blaise questioned as Harry walked towards his bag.
"A shield charm." Harry answered.
Blaise nodded at him, looking slightly thoughtful. "Harry send a spell at me real quick. I want to show something else my father taught me," Blaise said as he walked to the other side of the room.
"Why?" Harry questioned as he stared at the boy.
"Just do it." Blaise said, holding up his wand.
"Alright," Harry muttered before he raised his wand. "Flipendo!" The orange spell spun through the air heading straight for Blaise.
Blaise stood still as the spell went towards him before his wand moved directly at the spell. As his wand and the spell touched, Blaise whipped his wand back, sending the spell away from his body. The spell fizzled away and struck the wall. Harry, Hermione, and Neville's eyes widened in surprise as the young boy grinned at their expressions.
"Cool, huh," Blaise said as he placed his wand back at his side.
"How did you do it?" Harry questioned as he stared at the boy.
"It requires a lot of concentration and practice," Blaise said as he walked towards them. "The first time I did it, I collapsed," Blaise couldn't help but grin. "I didn't wake up for days afterwards because my magic had to recover from it. If you have a large magical core, you should be able to do it easily. Care to try?"
Harry raised an eyebrow slowly before he shrugged, holding out his wand. Blaise nodded, looking at Harry in wonder. He certainly is determined to learn everything, the Slytherin boy thought as he raised his wand.
"I'll send a spell, and you try to deflect it away." Harry nodded as Blaise raised his wand. A Knockback Jinx rocketed out of Blaise's wand. Harry watched as the spell headed towards him, raising his wand at the spell, it approached him and Harry found himself on his back a few moments later.
Blaise held a smile on his face as he pulled him up. Harry stood warily on his feet, watching Blaise carefully.
"It's alright, Harry," Blaise said. "I'm still getting the hang of it."
Harry shook his head, holding his wand determinedly. "Let's practice more," Harry said as he faced Blaise.
Hermione and Neville looked at the pair in surprise. "You sure?" Blaise questioned as he held his own wand. Harry nodded his answer.
Blaise shrugged to himself as he strolled to the other side of the room, holding up his wand. He pointed his wand at Harry again, and cast another spell.
The next week slowly went by. Harry, Hermione, and Neville sat at the Gryffindor table, eating breakfast slowly, each trying to calm their nerves. Well, Hermione and Neville were trying to; Harry slowly ate his breakfast, watching the pair with a grin on his face. During the weekend, a notice had appeared in the Gryffindor common room. It explained that they were going to have their first flying lesson… with the Slytherin's of all people.
Harry's slowly growing nemesis, Draco Malfoy had taken to boasting loudly in the halls about how he flew from Muggle helicopters when Harry was in earshot. The young boy shook his head every time he heard the story. Harry didn't have time to worry about the boys boasting. After the first spell deflecting session, Harry and Blaise practiced constantly during the evenings. Hermione and Neville joined them occasionally, but usually it was Harry and Blaise.
Harry looked up as the owls delivered the mail. A barn owl landed in front of Neville a package attached to its leg. The young boy looked at the package in slight confusion before he reached out, untying the package and opening it slowly. Neville pulled out a small clear ball with white smoke in it. Harry raised an eyebrow at it.
"What is it?" Harry questioned as he stared at the ball.
"It's a Remembrall," he said as he stared at it, "Gran knows I forget things – supposed to turn red once you forget things," his face fell as the ball white smoke slowly turned scarlet.
Harry clasped the young boys shoulder with a small smile. "I'm sure that you'll remember it Neville." Harry said as he turned away from him. Neville continued to stare at the small orb thoughtfully. The bell rang and Harry, Hermione, and Neville stood up, making their way out of the hall.
As they stepped out from the doors, Blaise joined them. The young Slytherin continued ignored the usual looks sent his way. It had become common. The small group made their way outside into the morning sunlight, blocking their eyes as the sun shined brightly. As they walked along the sloping lawns toward the smooth, flat lawn on the other side of the grounds, Hermione and Neville whispered quietly to themselves.
Harry listened in on their conversation, smirking as he heard them.
"Kick off gently from the ground," Hermione muttered to Neville.
"But what if I go off too early?" the young boy whispered worriedly.
"Point the tip of the broom downwards…" Hermione was reciting as they approached the twenty brooms lined neatly on the ground.
A woman appeared in front of them as they stepped over a broom. She had short gray hair and yellow eyes like a hawk.
"Good to see that you're all at a broom," she said as she faced them all. "Now, place your hand over a broom and say 'Up!"
"UP!" the class shouted. Harry's broom shot up into his hand, making Harry grin. Next to him, Blaise smirked at the boy, holding his own broom in his left hand. On Harry's other side, Hermione looked down at her broom in disappointment. The broom moved up gently before rolling onto its side. Neville grinned confidently as the broom slowly rose into his hand. A snigger escaped Harry as he saw the broom smash into Ron Weasley's nose. Blaise simply snorted at the scene.
Before they all knew it the group was flying through the air. Harry grinned as he felt the feeling of weightlessness, flying through the air. He dived swopped and soared through the air.
The sound of people yelling caused him to turn. Two first years – one of them Neville – crashed into each other with a loud wham. Both of them fell off their brooms, falling to the ground and landing with a thud. Both of the boys groaned in pain as they laid in a tangled mess. The boy's broomsticks were a few feet away from them in tangled mess.
Their teacher, Madam Hooch, was bending over they, waving her wand at the boys. She waved her wand at the pair and they both straightened. She waved her wand and the pair slowly floated into the air. She turned to the class, looking at them with narrowed eyes.
"None of you is to move while I take them up to the hospital wing! You leave those brooms on the ground or you'll be out of Hogwarts faster than you can say 'Quidditch."
They watched as they disappeared up the stairs. Draco Malfoy grinned at the whole class. "Did you see his face?" Malfoy drawled.
"I recall Crabbe's face being the same as always," Hermione snapped at the boy.
"Ooh, sticking up for Longbottom?" Pansy Parkinson said, a hard faced Slytherin girl.
"At least we know how to stick up for our friends, Parkinson," Harry said as he sneered at the girl. Draco's eyes caught something on the ground.
"Look what it is," the blond-haired boy held up Neville's Remembrall to the front of the class.
"Hand it over, Malfoy," Harry said as he moved his hand.
Malfoy smirked nastily at him.
"How about I leave it somewhere – ugh," the boy was cut off as he flew backwards, flying a few feet into the air before he crumbled to the ground. Harry shook his head as he slowly put down his wand, the Remembrall floating in the air. Hermione held out her own wand, holding it aloft. Harry nodded at her as he wrapped his hand around the small orb.
Harry grinned nastily as the young boy stood up. "Thank you for being so giving, Draco," Harry said as he held up the Remembrall. Harry handed Neville's Remembrall over to Hermione. The young girl took it silently as Malfoy glared at Harry hand going to his wand.
Harry grinned darkly as he held his wand at his side, watching him closely. Everyone around them backed up a step. Malfoy pointed his wand at Harry shouting, "Flipendo!"
Harry acted quickly. He rolled to the side muttering, "Expelliarmus, Rictusempra, Flipendo," the spells rocketed out of Harry's wand. Draco looked on in wide-eyed surprise as each spell washed over him. His wand laid on his grassy floor a few feet away, the young boy laughing as he laid on his back. Harry shook his head at the boy, placing his wand away as the Slytherin's ran towards the boy.
"Let's go give this back to Neville," Harry said as he turned to Hermione. Blaise nodded in agreement before the three walked back towards the castle. The Gryffindor's parted as they walked through them, making their way to the hospital wing.